The MINI Clubman Final Edition is the latest MINI special edition, taking the 71st spot in a long lineage of special editions that began in 1976. But who’s counting? (Apparently no one, aside from me.)
With a name like “Final Edition,” it immediately reminded me of the time that I watched The Final Countdown (1980) movie, fully expecting Europe’s “The Final Countdown” (1986) track to be played on endless loop throughout as I watched F-14s take flight from the deck of the USS Nimitz. Obviously, this never could have happened based on their respective release dates, but this was before IMDB existed and the movie was—spoiler alert—about time travel, so…
Getting back on topic, with Clubman production to end in early 2024 due to low sales, this will be one of the last Clubmans we see released—or at least until there’s a Final Final edition. This special edition will be limited to 1,969 units (as 1969 was the year the Clubman was introduced).
The first generation Mini Clubman.
Looking to the past, the first generation Clubman was sold between 1969 and 1981 with its unmistakable split rear doors. MINI says, “At that time, the Mini Clubman conquered the automotive market as a station wagon with a long wheelbase and extended shooting-brake body.”
The 2007 model introduced the additional passenger-side door.
In 2007, the second generation of the Clubman was a throwback to the original. In addition to the “barn doors” on the rear, there was also a backwards opening door on the side for ease of passenger entry. The third generation of Clubman came in 2015, growing in size thanks to two full-sized rear doors.
Shimmer Cooper accents can be seen on the edition-specific wheels.
This special edition is available as a Cooper or Cooper S, in Nanuq White, Enigmatic Black and Melting Silver, all with trim details in Shimmer Cooper. There are edition-specific two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels finished in a tinted clear lacquer, which ties into the Shimmer Cooper theme seen throughout the rest of the vehicle. The exterior receives special “Final Edition” badging and a “1 of 1969” badge on the side of the C-pillar.
Shimmer Cooper can also be seen throughout the interior.
The Final Edition receives a number of interior touches as well, such as special badging on the door sill trims, on the floor mats, on the lower spoke of the leather-wrapped sports steering, and on the MINI Yours sports seats, which according to MINI “are stylishly set off by an anthracite-coloured Pique fabric insert and blue contrasting stitching.” The dashboard trim comes in Sage Green Dark and Simmer Copper colors. Lest you forget, there’s also a “1 of 1969” badge on the passenger side trim.
Six doors!
With our first MINI special edition of 2023, we say goodbye to one of the last MINI Clubmans. It’s only a matter of time until the last rolls off the assembly line. Let The Final Countdown begin! —Mike Bevels
[Photos by MINI.]